SDLP Conference 2015 new leader Colum Eastwood and Deputy Leader Fearghal McKinney
ENNISKILLEN MAN Fearghal McKinney who is new deputy leader of the SDLP has said the party will continue to fight for funding and economic prosperity as he takes his role as the new deputy leader.
On Saturday there were jubilant scenes at Armagh City Hotel as 32-year-old Colm Eastwood took over from party leader Alasdair McDonnell, winning 172 votes to 133, while Fearghal McKinney pipped Dolores Kelly to the post as deputy leader with 20 votes between them.
Hoping that the ‘energy’ created at the weekend’s conference will make an impact on the ground he added that this was an “exciting new chapter” which he believed people in Fermanagh will benefit from.
“We need to make sure we have an economy that will make Northern Ireland work. People in the Fermanagh and the west will recognise that they aren’t getting the best deal possible and that is down to the narrowness of the DUP and Sinn Fein.”
He noted that bringing economic prosperity to Fermanagh would be a “tribute to the victims of the Troubles” stating, “There needs to be a regional balance, where all the money doesn’t go to Belfast. – This is simply not happening and the public are fed up. We are in a situation were in a population of 1.8 million less than half the population are economically active – it is an astounding figure and needs to be addressed.”
Despite McKinney being regarded as a close ally of Alasdair McDonnell, he said, “Both myself and Colm have made it very clear that we want to work together. We want greater unity at the head of the party.
“The energy produced on Saturday I think will inspire others, as we seek to bring prosperity which is our main ambition as a party. Alasdair was on that journey as well and he said publicly that he would exit the stage, so long as their was new people there to achieve the party’s ambition of prosperity here.”
Although with Stormont elections looming, it would seem economy isn’t the only thing to address for the Eastwood-McKinney bond. Votes for the SDLP in May’s Westminster’s Elections slipped by 2.6 per-cent.
However Mr McKinney was determined in stressing that there were ‘no fears’ surrounding any upcoming elections, “Many have already been congratulating me and said they will now vote SDLP as they see it as a change. You can see it on the ground with new faces and new people coming forward. It is a new and exciting chapter, not just for the sake of the SDLP but for Northern Ireland.
“The SDLP is ready for the challenge and are hoping to bring a sense of unity and prosperity. The people in Fermanagh know the job that has to be done, it is now for us to create actions.”
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